My name is Shantel Mitchell and I have been a teacher for BCPS for 13 years.
I have taught grades 2-5 including GT 5. For the past 8 years, I have been fully departmentalized in math in grades 3-5. Outside of school, I have a high interest in photography and music. I worked with National Public Radio for 3 years, in addition to several other publication in the DC/Baltimore area, photographing live music events and festivals.
I am anticipating my upcoming wedding - March 28th. We are a blended family with 4 children between the two of us... three girls ranging in age from 13-15. My son is 10... poor boy! We have an orange tabby cat named Milo who is our baby. We are venturing to Hawaii immediately following the end of the school year and we are taking all of the kids (they are very lucky!).
I uploaded this as my photo because this is EXACTLY what taking a family photo is like for us... hopefully we'll have a better one after Thursday!!!
symbaloo - a way to store and share favorite websites with friends and students. You can organize them into categories - including tiles and color coding. Edmodo - a social network site for communicating with teachers, students, and parents. Prezi - another way to present material besides just using MicroSoft PowerPoint. BackStory - an online portfolio site for students to upload and share work. Animoto - an alternative medium for presentation involving video, photographs, and sound engrade - an online grade book site that can be made open with password protection to parents and students. Site provides not only grades, but discussion areas, online teaching opportunities, and communication. Class DoJo - Online behavior/skill tracking tool that is interactive with students and parents! It's mobile friendly!
Work from Class 1:
Web 2.0 is a digital way to share, present, and create information collaboratively. Web 2.0 tools provide speed of sharing and a more creative approach to sharing material. With Web 2.0 tools, people with all backgrounds - not just students - can access calendars, schedules, multimedia, and documents all at the same time even at remote locations. Many teachers and students stick to PowerPoint for presentations when there is a multitude of additional presentation options out there that may be more appealing to students with different interests and creativity. Source: Discovery Education
I have actually used a wiki in my classroom. I did an Action Research on this a few years ago as wiki's were just becoming the talk of the town in education. I used this wiki with a 4th grade GT class. We had a problem of the week in which the students DID NOT SOLVE but discussed strategies for solving. The students were "trained" on having a dialogue in the comments to communicate with each other about their thoughts on how to solve the problem. After the middle of the week, the students would then be able to solve. As "trained", they would post their solutions but would also comment (make a suggestion or praise) another classmate's solution. The kids loved it! :) It went so well that the following year, I made pages for all four of my groups - although the page was mostly used by the GT students. The students loved that they could communicate with me easily!
Here is a link to my wiki: Mitchell Math at PB Works
Today's Meet
I actually used "Today's Meet" twice this week. The group of students that I used this with LOVED IT! Unfortunately it is blocked by BCPS. To use the site, I actually had to log all of the students on as me then they could use it. I was able to do this with them twice though since we were in the lab for MSA Science this week. I printed the transcript which I will scan and upload here.
Work from Class 2:
I am a firm believer in writing in math. This year, I adapted the science "Interactive Notebooks" presented by the county into my math classes. The students loved this! In addition to collecting notes and vocabulary, we described and illustrated many math concepts using journal prompts. In addition, the interactive notebooks gave the students an opportunity to express their thoughts on the concepts, strategies, and lessons. The Wiki and blogs are additional ways to utilize writing in math. Below are a few great links that I found on writing in math and math writing prompts!
Wordle and Word Clouds are a great way to get kids thinking about key vocabulary. It allows them to be creative while focusing on key words that are important to the concepts. In math, Word Clouds would be useful at the beginning of the unit. Students could generate a list of words that they feel are important to the unit (with the help of the teacher facilitating) and students could create their own wordles to display around the room.
Here is the Wordle that I created describing my wedding!
For this video, I would have the students explore graphing points on a graph with the discussion of linear and non-linear graphs. Since I teach 5th grade, I believe this would give them a real world application to graphing data points and discussing the differences in the "line" and how it relates to the real data. 100 Meter Dash Freestyle
Just like the video above, I see a lot of graphing applications with this video. I think an good extension would be to have the students graph the data and use the data to make future predictions for future swimmers.
Long Jump
This lesson video would be good to motivate the students to discover measurement conversions (which is a 5th grade skill) as well as calculating distances using algebra with given distances. Many students have a connection to sports, so this video could inspire more discussion using fields of other sports such as soccer, baseball, football.
My videos
Mr. Tu's Excellent Examples Module 3 Integers: Stunt Pilot
This video segment that I use on BCPS's Safari Montage is a 4 min video that explores real world integers in a profession of flying. After watching the video, students have a discussion about positive and negative integers and how it relates to the concepts of flying. Students will also generate a list of other real world examples of integers.
Mr. Tu's Excellent Examples Module 8 Points, Lines, Angles, and Triangles: Architect
This video is from the same series as above. I love this video because it illustrates the use of geometry in buildings but also application of floor plans and design which can be connected to measurement, area, and perimeter. In my math class, I encourage the students to create layouts of their "dream house" while applying all these skills portrayed in the video.
Skillwise BBC
This website is loaded with video segments related to math and other subjects and how learning is truly important to the real world and jobs. This website offers many opportunities to motivate students on a variety of topics! I have just found this website and only recently began using it. This will definitely become a regular website for use in my classes!
Today with my students, I introduced Padlet to them. They really enjoyed it! I did two walls - one to show them how to use it and one to show them how to add images. Then they had time to explore and create their own Padlet walls.
I love Educreations. I discovered this app after taking a professional development class over the summer on the "flipped" classroom. I downloaded the app this year and began exploring it as a way to help students with homework at home. While creating these videos is very time consuming, I feel that they are very beneficial. For my video, I took screen shots of the actual work that they did in class and used the information to explain how to connect decimals and place value to money. This lesson was revisited when teaching fractions. My students found this video very useful and my goal for next school year is to create one for every unit in math.
Name • Email
Shantel Mitchellsmitchell5@bcps.org
Kid Blog
Symbaloo
Bio
My name is Shantel Mitchell and I have been a teacher for BCPS for 13 years.I have taught grades 2-5 including GT 5. For the past 8 years, I have been fully departmentalized in math in grades 3-5. Outside of school, I have a high interest in photography and music. I worked with National Public Radio for 3 years, in addition to several other publication in the DC/Baltimore area, photographing live music events and festivals.
I am anticipating my upcoming wedding - March 28th. We are a blended family with 4 children between the two of us... three girls ranging in age from 13-15. My son is 10... poor boy! We have an orange tabby cat named Milo who is our baby. We are venturing to Hawaii immediately following the end of the school year and we are taking all of the kids (they are very lucky!).
I uploaded this as my photo because this is EXACTLY what taking a family photo is like for us... hopefully we'll have a better one after Thursday!!!
Links to Mobile Apps:
Virtual Manipulatives a great tool for using fraction strips!Pattern Blocks - online pattern blocks for student use!
Elevated Math
Geoboard
Educreations - an awesome app for creating and sharing educational visual tutorials!
Probability Tools - online probability tools such as a spinner, dice, cards, coins… etc
Elementary School Math - games to review basic elementary concepts
The 24 Game - the official 24 Game app
Possible Web 2.0 Tools for Project:
symbaloo - a way to store and share favorite websites with friends and students. You can organize them into categories - including tiles and color coding.Edmodo - a social network site for communicating with teachers, students, and parents.
Prezi - another way to present material besides just using MicroSoft PowerPoint.
BackStory - an online portfolio site for students to upload and share work.
Animoto - an alternative medium for presentation involving video, photographs, and sound
engrade - an online grade book site that can be made open with password protection to parents and students. Site provides not only grades, but discussion areas, online teaching opportunities, and communication.
Class DoJo - Online behavior/skill tracking tool that is interactive with students and parents! It's mobile friendly!
Work from Class 1:
Web 2.0 is a digital way to share, present, and create information collaboratively. Web 2.0 tools provide speed of sharing and a more creative approach to sharing material. With Web 2.0 tools, people with all backgrounds - not just students - can access calendars, schedules, multimedia, and documents all at the same time even at remote locations. Many teachers and students stick to PowerPoint for presentations when there is a multitude of additional presentation options out there that may be more appealing to students with different interests and creativity. Source: Discovery EducationLearning Style Results:
ResultsHow I Might Use a Wiki in the Classroom
I have actually used a wiki in my classroom. I did an Action Research on this a few years ago as wiki's were just becoming the talk of the town in education. I used this wiki with a 4th grade GT class. We had a problem of the week in which the students DID NOT SOLVE but discussed strategies for solving. The students were "trained" on having a dialogue in the comments to communicate with each other about their thoughts on how to solve the problem. After the middle of the week, the students would then be able to solve. As "trained", they would post their solutions but would also comment (make a suggestion or praise) another classmate's solution. The kids loved it! :) It went so well that the following year, I made pages for all four of my groups - although the page was mostly used by the GT students. The students loved that they could communicate with me easily!Here is a link to my wiki: Mitchell Math at PB Works
Today's Meet
I actually used "Today's Meet" twice this week. The group of students that I used this with LOVED IT! Unfortunately it is blocked by BCPS. To use the site, I actually had to log all of the students on as me then they could use it. I was able to do this with them twice though since we were in the lab for MSA Science this week. I printed the transcript which I will scan and upload here.Work from Class 2:
I am a firm believer in writing in math. This year, I adapted the science "Interactive Notebooks" presented by the county into my math classes. The students loved this! In addition to collecting notes and vocabulary, we described and illustrated many math concepts using journal prompts. In addition, the interactive notebooks gave the students an opportunity to express their thoughts on the concepts, strategies, and lessons. The Wiki and blogs are additional ways to utilize writing in math. Below are a few great links that I found on writing in math and math writing prompts!Writing in Math links
PBS Writing in Math101 Math Journal Prompts
Writing in Math Class
Integrating Writing into the Math Classroom
SMP Placemat Classwork
Link to Kidblog
Mrs. Mitchell's Class BlogWordle and Word Clouds
Wordle and Word Clouds are a great way to get kids thinking about key vocabulary. It allows them to be creative while focusing on key words that are important to the concepts. In math, Word Clouds would be useful at the beginning of the unit. Students could generate a list of words that they feel are important to the unit (with the help of the teacher facilitating) and students could create their own wordles to display around the room.Here is the Wordle that I created describing my wedding!
Work from Class 3:
My Prezi Presentation on Geometry!
Geometry PreziBloom's Organizer for Fractions
Work from Class 4:
PowerPoint for UDL
Work from Class 5:
Using Google Drive to create forms!Practice Form in Class
Lesson Observation Explore Rubric
I had my morning math group students take a survey on learning styles. They loved seeing the results! :)
Link to Results of Survey
Link to Survey
Work from Class 6:
Kid Blog Post - Mathematical Rich TaskVideo Lessons 100 Meter Dash
For this video, I would have the students explore graphing points on a graph with the discussion of linear and non-linear graphs. Since I teach 5th grade, I believe this would give them a real world application to graphing data points and discussing the differences in the "line" and how it relates to the real data.100 Meter Dash Freestyle
Just like the video above, I see a lot of graphing applications with this video. I think an good extension would be to have the students graph the data and use the data to make future predictions for future swimmers.
Long Jump
This lesson video would be good to motivate the students to discover measurement conversions (which is a 5th grade skill) as well as calculating distances using algebra with given distances. Many students have a connection to sports, so this video could inspire more discussion using fields of other sports such as soccer, baseball, football.
My videos
Mr. Tu's Excellent Examples Module 3 Integers: Stunt PilotThis video segment that I use on BCPS's Safari Montage is a 4 min video that explores real world integers in a profession of flying. After watching the video, students have a discussion about positive and negative integers and how it relates to the concepts of flying. Students will also generate a list of other real world examples of integers.
Mr. Tu's Excellent Examples Module 8 Points, Lines, Angles, and Triangles: Architect
This video is from the same series as above. I love this video because it illustrates the use of geometry in buildings but also application of floor plans and design which can be connected to measurement, area, and perimeter. In my math class, I encourage the students to create layouts of their "dream house" while applying all these skills portrayed in the video.
Skillwise BBC
This website is loaded with video segments related to math and other subjects and how learning is truly important to the real world and jobs. This website offers many opportunities to motivate students on a variety of topics! I have just found this website and only recently began using it. This will definitely become a regular website for use in my classes!
Learnzillion Lessons:
Solve real world distance problems with unit conversions
Solve multi-step problems using information in a line plot
Use multiplication (V = l x w x h) to find the volume of a solid figure
Relate positive and negative quantities; apply to elevation
Work from Class 7:
I created my MindMap on Vacation Ideas! (since summer is on the way!)Vacation Ideas Mind Map
My Popplet Explore on Geometry! I love this idea for group collaboration!
Today with my students, I introduced Padlet to them. They really enjoyed it! I did two walls - one to show them how to use it and one to show them how to add images. Then they had time to explore and create their own Padlet walls.
Work from Class 8:
I love Educreations.I love Educreations. I discovered this app after taking a professional development class over the summer on the "flipped" classroom. I downloaded the app this year and began exploring it as a way to help students with homework at home. While creating these videos is very time consuming, I feel that they are very beneficial. For my video, I took screen shots of the actual work that they did in class and used the information to explain how to connect decimals and place value to money. This lesson was revisited when teaching fractions. My students found this video very useful and my goal for next school year is to create one for every unit in math.
link: http://www.educreations.com/lesson/view/decimal-place-value/9236541/?ref=link
Work from Class 9
Web 2.0 Project Presentation
Class DoJo Prezi
Poll Anywhere "Summer Vacation"